Pomperaug's Eric Beatty, left, congratulates his teammate Dana Gramolini after Gramolini scores a touchdown as Seamus Conway, right, joins in during their game against Immaculate at Immaculate High School on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011.

Pomperaug's Eric Beatty, left, congratulates his teammate Dana Gramolini after Gramolini scores a touchdown as Seamus Conway, right, joins in during their game against Immaculate at Immaculate High School on

SWC Football Notebook: Newtown-Pomperaug matchup could have playoff implications

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Neither coach whose headset will be tuned in to Newtown-Pomperaug Thursday night was willing to endorse the notion that the matchup is more important than any other the SWC has to offer.

It is. And here's why: When the Nighthawks (3-0) travel to Southbury to take on the Panthers (3-0) at 7, somebody's "O," as prize fights are sometimes billed, has got to go. Beyond that, somebody's season is about to take on an entirely different complexion, one where the next "L" could spell some downright dismal state playoff odds. Two losses don't guarantee a team will miss the postseason, but when you consider that both teams have contenders left on their schedules, and that tiebreakers -- even under the state's expanded playoff format -- are almost certain to come into play, the value of a win Thursday can't be understated.

Make no mistake, Newtown's Steve George and Pomperaug's Dave Roach recognize the caliber of opponent, as well as the specific strengths they're up against.

The Nighthawks' two-headed rushing attack is a concern for the Panthers.

"(Lou Fenaroli)'s a big running back and he's going to try to go right through you," said Roach of the Nighthawks' primary backfield threat who's accounted for 495 yards on 68 carries and nine scores. "He won't try to go around you, but they have Dan Hebert (eight carries for 90 yards and a touchdown; six catches for 138 yards and a touchdown) who will try to do that."

The answer?

"Part of Pomperaug football, part of what we preach is 11 hats on the ball," Roach said. "Tackle well, and if you can't bring him down, the next guy will. Team tackling. So that's how we'll approach Fenaroli."

"They're multi-dimensional," George said. "They run the ball between the tackles real well, throw real well, play good defense, and have a really good kicking game. It will be challenging."

And, as George points out, stopping the Nighthawks is about more than limiting the damage provided by "the Hebert and Fenaroli show."

"(Hebert) and Fenaroli are always on the field together," George said. "Lou got the ball against Weston because I had to go with what's working, like any coach says. We're lucky we have more talented kids than just them, though. Those two have carried us through the season, although if we go to our third or fourth receiver, Mike Allwein and Chris Devaney are playing well."

Complicating this week's slate of games is the shortened week of preparation due to Yom Kippur on Friday.